Garafolo: Time for Jets to take down circus tent

Apr. 27, 2013
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West Virginia's Geno Smith speaks during a news conference after being selected 39th overall by the New York Jets in the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 26, 2013, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. / Jason DeCrow, AP

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. â?? Same old New York Jets, right? Well, they don't have to be.

John Idzik made a bold move Friday, saving Geno Smith from another agonizing minute in the Radio City Music Hall green room -- but Idzik immediately dragged him into a locker room and organization that could make him feel like the past few days were no more painful than a deep-tissue massage.

Things haven't exactly gone smoothly around Jetsville, what with the loose lips in the building and the presence of Tim Tebow weighing on starting quarterback Mark Sanchez last season. Or so Sanchez admitted recently.

But here standing before the Jets and Idzik is a chance to change the recent course of the organization, to do things the right way for Smith, the team and for Sanchez and Tebow.

Idzik was asked if he has any plans to release Mark Sanchez after drafting Smith.

"There are plans to let him compete," he told reporters Friday night.

Here's a better idea: Less competition. Release Sanchez and Tebow both. Now. Let them find work elsewhere. Eat the money owed to Sanchez. And give your new young quarterback, whose abilities many are already questioning, a fair shot without any unnecessary distractions buzzing around his head.

The new era of the Jets. The Idzik Era. The Smith Era. The circus-free, professional era.

Yeah, Smith might not be ready to play in Week 1. He got away with plenty of throws on the college level that won't fly in the NFL. He'll have to learn a complex NFL system after working his way through a much more simplified scheme at West Virginia.

So what? That's why veteran David Garrard is here.

The Jets signed Garrard this offseason to seemingly compete with Sanchez, who is owed $8.25 million guaranteed this season. Well, now it was Smith, on a conference call with the local media Friday night, talking about how his new job is to "compete day in and out."

Sanchez is 26 and, despite all of the turnovers over the past two seasons (52, for those scoring at home), he still believes he's somebody's franchise quarterback. No one is confusing 35-year-old Garrard for the quarterback of anybody's future. Not even Garrard, probably.

Let Garrard compete for the job this year. Let him teach Smith how to be smart with the football. If Garrard was unspectacular during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, at least he was careful and didn't turn the ball over. Over his last five seasons in Jacksonville, he averaged 13.8 turnovers.

And for all of those pundits knocking the selection of Smith, it should be noted he had a 67.4% completion rate and threw only 21 interceptions in 1,465 attempts in college.

This might wind up being an extremely wise pick for Idzik, who surely saw what a mobile quarterback could do last season while he was still with the Seattle Seahawks. But this is a pick he and the Jets' coaching staff must nurture.

Smith had to battle his way through one day of disappointment this week. He nearly left town and then, after sleeping on it, decided it was best to stay.

"It was just a test of patience, a test of character," Smith said, "and I wanted to make it my duty to come back today and represent my family and all those who support me."

Let's not call Smith mentally fragile. He's a bold guy. In fact, he predicted the Jets would make the playoffs this season.

But if he had trouble handling the adversity, it's fair to wonder whether having Sanchez or Tebow around him will affect him. Tebow, seemingly the ultimate team player, sulked late last season when Rex Ryan passed over him. He's now â?? what? â?? sixth on the depth chart behind Sanchez, Smith, Garrard, Greg McElroy and Matt Simms.

It's Rex Ryan's neck on the line here, so whichever quarterback is playing Week 1 had better be ready to go, for his sake.

Smith could use some change, too -- from that potential crowd in the Jets' meeting room. He needs a fair shake, an environment in which the only obstacles are the playbook, the opposing defense and the general pressure that comes with being a quarterback in New York.

Sanchez doesn't need a wasted year, either. He's getting paid either way. All that money to hold a clipboard? Owner Woody Johnson signed off on that contract; Idizk didn't, so Idzik shouldn't have to pay the price.

And neither should Smith. He paid it the past two days. This should be a fresh start for him.